Program keeps geese in line

December 24, 2007|Scott Waltman, American News writer

A goose depredation program designed to protect farmers' fields is working well, according to a South Dakota State University study. Preliminary results show the program can reduce damage to crops by 50 percent or more. Much of the testing was done in fields near wetlands in northeast South Dakota, where Canada geese often nest. The project was started by the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department more than a decade ago after ag producers complained about crop damage caused by geese. SDSU's research, done over the past two years, was to determine the project's effectiveness. When the GF&P receives calls about Canada goose damage, it uses techniques to discourage the geese from going onto the farmer's land. They include using electric fence, planting vegetation barriers, establishing alternative feeding sites and using scare devices. Building an electric fence at goose level is the most-used tactic to keep geese from soybeans, said Will Morlock, GF&P regional program manager in charge of wildlife for northeast South Dakota. GF&P seasonal workers, employed from mid-May until the end of August, do most of the work, Morlock said. During most of that time, nesting Canada geese cannot fly. That's why soybeans - which are planted late and don't grow very tall - appeal to the geese. Making nearby alternate feeding areas, usually on public land, also works well, Morlock said. Generally, between one and three acres near wetlands are mowed and shelled corn is put out once a week. There are about 30 such sites between Webster and Watertown each year, he said. Between 10,000 and 15,000 geese nest on the sites. When barrier strips are planted, they are usually about 100 feet or so wide, Morlock said. In that area, taller-growing wheat is usually planted between the wetlands and the soybeans. Areas without much cover are popular with geese because goslings can't yet fly and adult geese can easily spot predators, Morlock said. Speed counts: Chuck Dieter, an SDSU biologist, said the sooner problems with geese are reported, the more effective the program is. Preliminary numbers show that damage can be reduced by as much as 95 percent, he said. There's still more analysis to be done, but it's clear the program works, Dieter said. SDSU received about $100,000 from the GF&P for the program. Graduate student Troy Radke has done much of the work. Dieter said geese do damage to other crops as well, but probably not as much as soybeans. Soybeans can recover somewhat from modest damage, Dieter said. But, Morlock added, if the birds have wiped out 10 acres before the problem is reported, there's not much that can be done. Funding source: The program is paid for by a $5 surcharge on hunting licenses. Half of that money goes to fund various depredation programs. The other half is used to pay for walk-in and other public hunting areas. Morlock said 70 to 100 landowners take advantage of the program each year. He said all conservation officers and GF&P offices know about it.